In His Name Devotionals
FREEDOM
In His Name Devotionals
FREEDOM
“In (Christ) we have redemption.” (Ephesians 1:7 NIV)
Freedom is precious. People throughout history have prayed, fought, and died for it. America’s Declaration of Independence upholds it as an inalienable right.
But the truth is, no matter what one’s political situation might be, everyone is a slave—either to sin or to God. Jesus said that “everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (John 8:34). Paul added that all of creation is in slavery to corruption (Romans 8:21). However, believers have “been freed from sin and enslaved to God.” (Romans 6:22)
The Roman Empire had as many as twenty million slaves; slave trade was a major industry. For a slave to gain freedom, a redemption price had to be paid. The Greek word for such a transaction is the same one which Paul used in Ephesians 1:7 to speak of our “redemption” from sin’s bondage.
Slavery to sin is bondage; slavery to God is freedom. That sounds paradoxical, but God is the Sovereign King, and true freedom means having the ability to bend your will to His and thereby become all He created you to be, even though you will at times fail, your greatest desire and highest pursuit as a believer is to be like Christ (1 John 2:5-6). Those enslaved to sin cannot do that, nor do they want to.
Today you will have opportunities to demonstrate your submission to Christ. Let your attitudes and actions speak clearly of your love for the Master.
